Equestrian: Mason beats favourites to title

Tayla Mason, Waikanae, won the Dunstan New Zealand Young Rider One-day Event title at Rotorua over the weekend, riding Lucy With Diamonds.

They were the only combination to complete on their dressage score, having added no penalties in either jumping phase, to head off favourites Ashleigh McKinstry, Owhango, and Pioneer Makokomiko. McKinstry was second after the dressage, but had two showjumping rails down, which cost her the title. She finished 1.6 penalties behind Mason.

The overnight leader going into Sunday's cross-country was Jessica Woods, Ohaupo, on Defies Logic, who produced one of only three clear showjumping rounds, but she came unstuck at a big brush palisade early on the course, not having full strength in one leg after a motor accident 10 days before the event. Local girl Georgia Dufty and Charlton Tabloid led after the dressage, but had a disastrous showjumping round. However, a clear cross-country round inside the time saw them pull up the order to finish third.

The Junior title went to Samantha Mynott, Wellsford, riding Princess Trinity.

Dunstan NZ Young Rider One-day Event Championship: Tayla Mason, Lucy With Diamonds, 41.2, 1; Ashleigh McKinstry, Pioneer Makokomiko, 42.8, 2; Georgie Dufty, Charlton Tabloid, 53.6, 3.

Dunstan NZ Junior Rider One-day Event Championship: Samantha Mynott, Princess Trinity, 41.2, 1; Loran Mathis, Flintoff, 43.3, 2; Nicole Green, FIS de Lago, 44.8, 3; Alex Chambers-Steward, Peti Peti Wai, 49.5, 4.